The European Ombusdan, P. Nikiforos, has recently presented his Annual Report 2008. The European Ombudsman has the task of investigating complains about EU institutions and bodies maladministration.
During 2008 Ombudsman received 3,406 complaints from EU citizens, companies, NGOs and associations particularly against the Commission (66%).
Complains were mainly about lack of transparency, maladministration concerned late payments for EU projects, unfairness or abuse of power and discrimination.
Unsurprisingly, the lack of transparency in the EU administration continues to be the number one cause for complaints handled by the European ombudsman in 2008. 36% of inquiries concerned the refusal of information or documents. No wonder citizens do not trust the EU institutions.
According to the Ombudsman the Commission still has serious problems paying its bills on time.
36% of all the Ombudsman investigations were settled by the institution complained against or a friendly solution was reached. However, Ombudsman issued a critical remark in 44 cases, meaning that the EU institutions have not sorted out the issue.
